Gene Scarborough: What Made America A Super Power? | Eastern North Carolina Now

    We are seeing today the possibilities of management/labor cooperation in some places vs. abuse from either side against the other.

    I am told the down side of Northern Labor is lack of efficient production and Unions becoming corrupt. The leaders sometimes offer the same abuse as former business owners. That extreme is unwise.

    The other extreme of the South is people willing to do good work for next to nothing and complaining without organizing.

    Owners didn't get their position (unless they inherited the company) by being lazy nor stupid. If they are so consumed with GREED they don't consider who made them successful, they are in for a lowering of production.

    EXAMPLE: Next to the schools, PCS (Phosphate giant mine), in Beaufort County for many years and across the river from me, has had a successful past under local American ownership. A few years ago a Canadian monster bought them out and I hear the complaints of workers as we ride the Bayview-Aurora Ferry together.

    They had 85 workers laid off in December. That is about as cruel as it gets. The Administration sits in nice offices and comfort. Papers and HVAC won't kill them. Meanwhile the men must endure dirt and the real possibility of death or injury to make the product.

    Someone gets killed or injured every year around the monster machines and caustic products (highly concentrated Sulfuric Acid for one). They used to have family benefits of gatherings and fun in a nice park area-no more.

    The anger is strong / trust is low / it is not the happy place it once was.

    Henry Ford built the first great assembly line company in Detroit. I am told he got in early and soon was walking the line talking with his men concerning how they might do things better / more efficiently / without undue injury to workers doing the same thing over and over. He created a team of workers.

    Large corps can be most successful. Those who succeed over the bruised and battered bodies of people, are guilty of abuse and lack of caring.

    Somewhere in the middle is a good ground of fair prices / fair labor pay / good will for all. Let's see if we can find such again!!! The same applies to any group—politics / religion / etc.